NY, Doubleday, Doran, 1940. Nonfiction by this writer of Choctaw descent, who is best-known for his mystery novels set in Mexico. Downing wrote nine mysteries between 1933 and 1941, with quite favorable responses, and this one book of nonfiction, which was his attempt to branch out from the mystery field. After 1941, not yet 40 years old, Downing gave up writing and retired from the University of Oklahoma and returned to his home town of Atoka, Oklahoma and taught high school. Later he taught the Choctaw language at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Mild foxing to endpages; near fine in a very good, slightly foxed dust jacket with some tape-strengthening on the verso, very shallow edge wear, and fading to the red stripe on the spine. [#031730] SOLD